Once the youngest player in the NFL, at just 19 years old, running back Ronnie Hillman is now entering his fifth season in the league. Hillman, 24, has already eclipsed the average career length in the NFL of less than 3 years and could have a lucrative 10-year career and retire before he even reaches 30.
However, before he gets that far, he needs to focus on earning a spot on the Denver Broncos roster. Even after leading the Broncos in rushing yards last season, many outsiders are projecting that Hillman will not make the Broncos final 53-man roster.
Like many professional athletes, Hillman doesn’t care what outsiders think of his chances to make the team.
“That’s for y’all to speculate. I really don’t care,” Hillman said on Friday after training camp. “I’m just coming out here, doing my job and whatever happens, happens. But I’m not too worried about what media or outside people are really talking about.”
At the end of the day Hillman knows that he is in a similar situation as most of his teammates — excluding the likes of guys like Von Miller, Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and Chris Harris Jr., just to name a few — by trying to earn a spot on the team.
“I’m just like the rest of these guys out here working, trying to get a spot on the roster,” Hillman said.
With the way the Broncos backfield is taking shape, it appears that one man will be left out when the final roster comes out on September 3. Andy Janovich is expected to be a lock at fullback, while C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker are the shoo-ins at tailback. That leaves Hillman, Kapri Bibbs and Juwan Thompson fighting for the final two spots.
Typically, backup running backs earn a spot on the roster from their potential to help the running game, along with contributions on special teams. While Hillman hasn’t had a major contribution on special teams in the past, head coach Gary Kubiak said that’s not the case this year.
“Ronnie is doing (special teams) … no doubt,” Kubiak said. “If we are going to be a three-, four-back team … (special teams) will play a factor.”
Although special teams haven’t been a part of his past, Hillman is willing to do anything to help better the team, and make the roster.
“Come out here, work, make the roster, whatever I can do to help the team, that’s what I’m going to do,” Hillman said.
Despite competing for his livelihood, Hillman is still willing to help the younger players out, specifically rookie Devontae Booker.
“Whatever I know, (Devontae Booker) knows,” Hillman said. “Whatever I can help him with, I do. So I’m just going to help the young guy out.”
While Booker is a “young guy” compared to Hillman in terms of NFL experience, they are both actually 24 years old. Since Hillman was only 19 when he entered the league, he says he encounters this often and takes on a comical role.
“I run into that a lot,” Hillman said. “I was just lucky enough to be young when I left (college). (Booker) took a different path and we both ended up here. Now I’m just the young-old man and I got to deal with it.”
Hillman knows he is fortunate to already have the career that he has had, but he also knows that he still has a lot left in the tank. If he wants to prove that with the Broncos, he needs to seize the opportunity that is ahead of him — training camp and preseason.
“It feels good to just come out and actually be able to practice in a fifth camp,” Hillman said. “I just want to take advantage of an opportunity.”
If a depth chart were released today, Hillman would most likely be the second running back listed behind Anderson, but with the ability of the other players behind him to contribute on special teams, it puts some doubt on if he will make the team. One major advantage that Hillman has is his in-game experience, something that is very difficult to overlook from the coaching staff.
While most of Broncos Country is debating whether or not Hillman will make the roster, his focus remains on doing anything to make the team better, even if that means helping his competition during camp.